Sam Willis releases his debut solo album Winterval via Half Machine Records on cadmium red vinyl. One-half of electronic duo Walls, who have released two critically-acclaimed and adored albums on Kompakt, his solo debut delivers on the rich promise of his earlier releases and remixes for influential imprints such as Playhouse, RVNG Intl., Rekids, and Buzzin' Fly, amongst others. Winterval is a bold and immersive album that fuses the saturated analog sounds of classic house and techno with the plangent/euphoric melodics associated with Brian Eno or Selected Ambient Works-era Aphex Twin. In a contemporary context, Willis' experimental and hypnotic sounds fit neatly but uniquely alongside the likes of other sonic 4/4 explorers such as Four Tet, Actress, Nathan Fake and Caribou. Includes mp3 download.

The Magic are brothers Geordie and Evan Gordon, from small-town Guelph, on the outskirts of Toronto. Having grown up in a musical house, their father, folk singer James Gordon, wrote "Mining for Gold" (famously covered by the Cowboy Junkies). For their own band however, they eschew their dad's acoustic folk roots and have made a record as equally indebted to the effervescent pop of Phoenix, the soulful studio slickness of Hall & Oates, and the white funk of Talking Heads. Geordie sings, plays guitar and keys, with Evan on bass, backing vocals and production. They're also joined by their friend Sylvie Smith from the band Evening Hymns on additional vocals, notably on the frustrated lover's plea "Call Me Up." Elsewhere on the record, they take in syncopated disco rhythms and languid '80s funk, while also peppering every song with effortless big FM pop choruses. On 180 gram vinyl with download code.